Thermostatic circuit closer



Sept. 29, 1925.

B. SOETERS THERMOSTATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER 16 May 5 1921 [II/(9:5.

Patented Sept. 29, 1925.y

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN SOETERS, OF THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS.

THERMOSTATIC Application filed May 5,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BiNJAwrN Son'rnns, a citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, residing at The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ten Hovestraat (3S, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Circuit Closers, of which the followingI is a specification.

The object of my invention consists in improvements in such devices for producingrg audible or visible signals, with which the said signals are obtained by interrupting a main circuit and closing a relay circuit, in which relay circuit the means for producing the audible or visible signals are inserted.

The feature of my invention consists therein that the fusion of an interrupter, inserted between two adjacent ends of an electrical wires, subdivided at certain distances, is used to produce the said interruption of the main current and the closing` of the relay current, wherein the means for emanating audible or visible signals are inserted.

The fusion of said interrupter is attained by employing easily fusible metal or other suitable material, suitable to conduct electric current, to which interrupter pieces of easily inflammable material are attached or otherwise fixed.

The subdivision of the main current wire and the insertion of interrupters between two adjacent ends of said wire so produced, may be effected at any convenient place of said main circuit, and as many times as spaces, rooms or other places should be protected or secured against fire.

In the practical execution of my invention, as the easily fusible material for connecting two adjacent ends of the main circuitat the points of subdivision, tin-foil lamina of suitable size and thickness may be employed and as easy inflammable material, which may be fastened or otherwise attached to said interrupter, paper, tissue paper, silk gauze, silk tissue or the like may be used.

ln the accompanyingr drawing several forms of execution of my invention are diagramatically illustrated.

Fig. l represents a form of execution of my invention, wherein one wire is used only, showing an interrupter inserted between two adjacent ends of said wire, at the point of .subdivision of same.

2 shows another form of execution,

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

1921. Serial No. 467,194.

wherein special Contact pieces are used for the formation of the relay circuit, in addition to the wires of the main current.

Fig. 3 represents another method of execution, wherein the means for conducting the electric current, are disposed on two cylinders concentrically arranged with regards to, and movable in, each other.

F i shows a fourth mode of execution, wherein spring contacts are provided which act against the conducting wire of the main circuit.

Figure 5 is a substantially transverse sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 of Figure 2.

In the forni of execution of my invention, represented in F 2 and 3, the electric connection is produced by contact surfaces of tin-foil lai'nina or of any other suitable conducting material, with the wires of the main circuit. Also the connection of two adjacent ends of the wire of the main circuit is effected by tin-foil lamina, or by any other suitable, easily fusible` material.

The closing of the main circuit is effected by connecting the ends of the wire of the main current with said contact surfaces. The metallic contact of the ends of the subw divided wire is also with this method of execution effected by inserting an ea-sy fusible thin metal sheet or thin lamina, to which metal lamina. the said easily inflammable paper or gauze or tissue is attached.

It results from the foregoing that in order to keep the relay circuit open, the main circuit must be closed, and this is effected by causing the electric current to pass through the subdivided wire of the main circuit, whilst.. the adjacent edges of same being connected by the said lamina of easy fusible metal.

In the drawings Fig. l represent l, l the conducting wire of the main circuit; 2, 2 the adjacent edges of same at the place of subdivision of same; 3 the lamina or connecting bridge of easy fusible material. To the said lamina, the easy inflammable material 4 as paper, tissue paper, silk gauze, silk tissue and the like is fixed.

lith the form of execution according to Fig. 2, l, 1 designate the conducting wire of the main circuit; 5, 5 the conducting con* necting surfaces, for instance thin metal sheets, or tin-foil lamina, the same being connected by the interrupter or bridge 3 with the edges of the conducting Wire at the places of subdivision.

In Fig. 3, 6 and 7 designate two concentric bodies, for instance cylinders or prisms, the external one 7 of which is supported by and embraces the wires 1, 1 while the internal one 6 is provided with the contact pieces 5, 5 on opposite outsides thereof. The interrupter of fusible material 3 is carried by the internal cylinder 6, the said cylinders or prisms being telescopically movable relative to each other. The internal one 6 may be made either hollow or as a solid body. The purpose of this telescopic construction is to facilitate the insertion of new cylinders 6 into position, and to protect the electrical contacts made between the wires l and the contact surfaces 5.

This apparatus may also be executed as shown in Fig. 4, by disposing a spring contact -8, which acts against the wire 1, 1.

As an advantage of the apparatus according to my inventiom'there may be mentioned that due to small costs connected with its manufacturing, the saine may be applied largely for improving security against fire.

The method of operation of my apparatus is the following:

In case of fire, by the ignition of the easy inflammable material 4, the said interrupter 3 of easy fusible material is caused to fuse.

I claim:

1. A thermostatic circuit closer comprising parallel auxiliary circuit wires, a body portlon having contact surfaces on op osite sides thereof and beingremovably an frictionally supported between and by said wires to allow contact between each of said wires and one of the contact surfaces, a fusible circuit-section carried by said body portion and connecting said contact surfaces and a hollow cylinder supported by and embracing the circuit wires.

2. A thermostatic circuit closer comprising parallel auxiliary circuit wires, a hollow cylindrical member supported by and em bracing the wires, a cylindrical body portion having contact surfaceson opposite outsides thereof and telescopicallyv removably frictionally supported between said wlres to allow contact between each of said Wires and one of the contact surfaces, and a fusible oircuit-section carried by said body portion and electrically connecting said contact surfaces.

In a thermostatic circuit closer, the combination with the elements claimed in claim 2 of inflammable material suspended on the fusible circuit-section.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BENJAMIN SOETERS. 

